Guardiola Praises Arsenal's Style Ahead of Crucial Clash with Man City
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed admiration for Arsenal, stating he enjoys watching them play and believes he can "learn a lot" from their style. As the Gunners sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League, they are also competing for a Champions League double, with a semi-final against Atletico Madrid on the horizon. Despite their success, Arsenal has faced criticism for their recent performances, having scored only 37% of their 62 league goals from set-pieces this season. They managed just two goals from open play in their last five matches, raising questions about their attacking strategy. In a monumental clash this Sunday (kick-off 16:30 BST), Arsenal will face second-place City, knowing that avoiding defeat could significantly boost their chances of winning their first league title in over two decades. Guardiola acknowledged the pressure on Arsenal, saying, "People are so demanding... I enjoy watching them. I learn a lot in many things." Arsenal's title hopes faced a setback following a surprising home defeat to Bournemouth, while City capitalized with a commanding victory over Chelsea. This shift in results saw Arsenal's chances of winning the title drop from 97% to 87%, while City improved from 3% to 13%, according to Opta. The two teams previously drew at the Emirates Stadium last September, but City has the upper hand after defeating Arsenal 2-0 at Wembley Stadium to claim the Carabao Cup last month. Guardiola emphasized the importance of the upcoming match, stating, "It depends on our behaviour and everything will be said on Sunday." He remains confident in his team's readiness and respects Arsenal's quality as they prepare for this critical encounter.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-04-17